The ethical uses of VR
By Oba Cantine
For years whenever people heard or thought of Virtual Reality, the limits of how it could be used were boundless.
From entertainment, art, education, and methods of storytelling. Whether it came in the form of a movie where the viewer could explore the environment off-screen, a virtual art exhibit where the picture comes to life, or a history class where the students can meet a historical figure or relive a historic moment time.
For years whenever people heard or thought of Virtual Reality, the limits of how it could be used were boundless.
From entertainment, art, education, and methods of storytelling. Whether it came in the form of a movie where the viewer could explore the environment off-screen, a virtual art exhibit where the picture comes to life, or a history class where the students can meet a historic figure or relive a historic moment time.
Although Virtual reality tends to be viewed as one of the most useful emergent technology to come into existence, in recent years. Especially with many cell phone companies developing technology that enables users to use their cellphones as wireless VR goggles. It still faces some ethical issues.
One big ethical issue that arises when thinking of the use of VR technology is the concern that it will desensitize its users when they’re in the real world. Based on the amount of time that some users are immersed in the virtual world and the content that they are partaking in.
According to a 2015 wired article written by Micheal Bundle, titled “Death and violence ‘too intense’ in VR, developers admit”, where he discusses hoe death and Violence in VR can potentially cross the line.
He states, “The problem developers are finding is that VR takes even cartoonish, unrealistic violence and makes it real enough, on a seemingly subconscious level”. With the rules of using VR not being clear enough for game developers to create an ethically sound game, they are forced to use their own judgment.
Whereas news publications like the Washington Post, Time, and Vice News have been using VR technology in the form, of 360 videos as a way to report on international stories, and document global events from around the world. Although it is currently an unregulated tool for journalism, a big concern is the idea that it is intrusive due to the video capturing all of its surroundings as well as bystanders.
